Hello, friends. I hope you've had a Fabulous week full of Family, Friends, Fun and Fellowship. I love Thanksgiving - you all but have to stop and think about all your blessings - which, is easy to forget when you are caught up in the chaos of life. I don't do "thank therapy" enough and it's at this time of year that I remind myself that "thank therapy" is a Fabulous way to remember that I'm ok.
What is "thank therapy" you ask? This is where no matter what life throws at you, you find a "thanks" in it. For example, my eyes are burning right now. They've burned and watered all day and I'm about over it. It's minor, but it's irritating. However, using "thank therapy", I am thankful that I have eyes to burn and water - not everyone does. See how that could help? I was super-sore from working out with the almost adult this week and I whined about the fact that my legs felt like a horse kicked them. But using "thank therapy," I'm thankful I have legs that get me around. I need to better at this.
So, last week I left you with a few goals I had placed for myself. I knew it was going to be a tough week with Thanksgiving nestled so snug in the middle. I went into this transformation knowing that I would need to combat Thanksgiving and Christmas (and New Years!); but, I didn't want those to be excuses as to why I should wait until January 1st. First, I'll talk about working out. I worked out a couple of days - but did not reach my goal of 4+. I did, however, walk about 20 miles on Thanksgiving evening and Black Friday morning shopping (maybe a slight exaggeration).
I am happy to report that I did NOT eat two pieces of pumpkin pie; I barely at 2/3's of one. I am not going to talk about the two glasses of wine that my sister-in-law poured down my throat as she was holding me down. I wouldn't want to blow her cover as one of the most easy-going people I know. Just know that I'm building muscles to fight her off come Christmas time (love ya SIL!).
I am also happy to report that I am going to only get the scale out bi-weekly. It's a step; I'm a work in progress and I'm hoping to eventually move to once a month to none at all. As I move away from the scale, I will start updating the blog and the FB page with progress pictures. This is where that Fearless part will come in!
Alright, so I'm guessing you're wondering about the "detox" part of this entry's title. Well, I have (albeit slightly begrudgingly) agreed to do the "Fit Girls" "Fitkini" challenge with the almost adult (side note - she will be "the adult" in less than 3 weeks - she keeps reminding all of us of that fact). Starting tomorrow, we will be doing the "detox" portion before we hit the challenge the following week. On the positive side, she loves meal prepping and already has our lunches ready for the next two days. On a not-so-positive side, I held back gagging at the smell of the seaweed that is part of my lunch tomorrow. I'll report back next week on if I was able to keep it down.
I also want to let you know that this week, I am having a minor outpatient procedure that will keep me from working out as I'd like. I debated on whether or not I should share, but I didn't want my working out only 1-2 times next week to seem like a step back. After reading the sad, yet amazingly loving post by Rory Feek about his wife today, I realized that sharing has its benefits, if not just for an extra prayer or two. So, on Tuesday, if you can remember to throw me in your prayers, I would appreciate it. It's nothing major and it's not cause for alarm; will just take me out of the gym for a few days to a week (darn!). I mean, who wouldn't want to hurry up and get back to the gym just in time to start a program called "Fitkini"?!?!?
On a last note, I want to say thank you to all of you who have reached out and given me encouragement so far. I truly appreciate it and you are part of my motivation.
"A year from now, you will wish you had started today." ~unknown
Well, I'm at the end of week two of getting Fabulous before Forty. It's been a week of challenges; some to which I've arisen - some-not so-much. The leader in me tells me to start with the positive, so that's what I'll do.
Defeating the gym excuses. I am not, by nature, a gym lover. I feel Fantastic (Fabulous!) after I've gone, but getting there is more than half the battle. I don't loathe it; but, I certainly don't love it. You saw on my FB page earlier this week that I had to battle my brain and my body to go to the gym on Monday. I went; but, only because I knew I had to tell you if I didn't. The blog is certainly holding me accountable for the most part. I made a goal to get to the gym more than the two times I had the week before. I'm proud to say I went THREE times and worked out at home once - yes!
Ok, now for the not-so-positive. I started out the week losing another couple of pounds (hey wait a minute - why is that in the negative section?!?!?!?). I ended the week up .5 pounds (oh). I know that weight should not be the sole measure of success. I'm "working out" and couple that with hormones, I shouldn't be fixated on the scale. But, I am. I will work on this and start incorporating inches in my blog so that I can help myself take the focus off just what I weigh. It's innate, though and will be a work in progress.
I am happy to say that I got a chance to work on another couple of areas - Friends and Family. I had an impromptu coffee date with two of my best good friends yesterday. It was cold and windy and getting dark and I was snuggled on the couch under my covers. But I went and I love these two women dearly. I enjoyed the Fellowship (and the homemade pumpkin bread - darn you half pound!). We also enjoyed a Family game night where the about-to-be-an-adult was even here. It was the best Saturday night I've had in quite a while. I am blessed. Also, I have two Friends who live north and south of me who kept me laughing all week long with not-safe-for-my-blog texts. If you don't have a "Few Good Friends" (you can't handle the truth!) that you can just be you with, I encourage you to start looking.
My eating was so-so, but I stayed out the candy jar again. Then, this happened:
Yeah, so I might have eaten 200 grape Tic Tac's in less than 48 hours. Remember - work in progress.
This week is Thanksgiving, so I'm not going to make crazy, unattainable goals. My goals this week are to go to the gym at least three times, drink more water (getting there) and to not eat two pieces of pumpkin pie. I think that given the holiday, these goals are realistic (except the pumpkin pie - worried about that one). Happy Thanksgiving and blesses to you all!
The first week is in the books on my challenge to get Fabulous for my Forties. I've had some triumphs this week and some not-so-bright spots. I have to remember this is a journey; and, I'm happy to have you along with me.
So, let's start out with a triumph. The candy jar. The beloved candy jar that calls my name around 2:30pm in the afternoon. Sometimes it's a fruity craving; sometimes it's chocolate. Sometimes it just doesn't matter as stress takes over and I need to eat something. This week, I challenged myself to stay out the candy jar. It is full and there are reserves waiting when it starts to empty. Dang the person who filled it (me)!!! I am happy to report, though, that I made it all week without touching it (yay!). Now the Halloween candy at home is another story for another time. Whomp-whomp!
I did make it to the gym twice, but had a tummy bug to contend with later in the week that prevented me from going any more. I'll work on that this week. My eating was so-so (I avoided a chocolate chip cookie from Subway so I didn't have to blog about it) but still not fantastic. Azzip Pizza on Friday was delicious, but I also ate the zip sticks too and that was just uncalled for.
All-in-all, I know I'm not going to make fabulous choices all the time and this is a slow process. Happily, I'm down 4 pounds. So, this week, I resolve to (on-top of staying out of the lustful office candy jar) 1. hit the gym at least 3 times this week; 2. drink more water each day (diet Mt. Dew anyone?); and, 3. have a mid-week blog update to help keep me accountable (and so you don't forget about me!).
Feel free to let me know about your journey too! See you mid-week.
"Never let a stumble in the road be an end of the journey." ~Unknown
Well, hello there! I created this blog because I recently turned around and realized that life was passing me by at an incredible pace. My oldest is almost 18 and I'm still trying to lose that "baby weight!" I work a lot, am constantly running with kids and sometimes say "hi" to my husband. I eat horribly, make attempts to work out and, by the end of the day, am exhausted. What was it that Susan Powter used to say - "Stop the insanity!"??
So, this is where my blog comes in. I'm knocking on 40 and I'm ready to live life rather than life dragging me along. I'm ready to face this next phase of life "Fabulously!" Inspired by a dear friend who started a fitness program the year she turned 40 and pledged to get #fitbyforty, I am vowing to make my 40's Fabulous.
Just how do I plan to do this? Well, I'm going to work on getting Fitter by watching what I eat and trying to be more consistent with exercise. I'm going to tackle some of my Fears by going outside my comfort-zone and seizing life-advancing opportunities (starting with this blog!). I want to sharpen the bonds with Family and Friends by looking for ways to reconnect. And, most importantly, I want to strengthen my Faith by relying on more reading and prayer.
I plan on updating this blog weekly with an update on my success and failures at trying to live life Fabulously. I will update Facebook throughout the week and look forward to each of you providing encouragement to not only me, but to each other. Most of all, I want us women to live life Fabulously - no matter what season of life you are in. Let's do this together.
"The only impossible journey is the one you never begin." ~Anthony Robbins
